Census 2027 begins with Houselisting and Housing Census; President first to self-enumerate
Phase I of Census 2027, the Houselisting and Housing Census, began on 1 April 2026 with India's first digital data capture and self-enumeration, with President Droupadi Murmu the first to self-enumerate.
Summary
Phase I of Census 2027, the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), began on 1 April 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs said, marking India's first digital data capture and self-enumeration. President Droupadi Murmu was the first to complete self-enumeration, followed by the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Self-enumeration opened first in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim and the NDMC and Delhi Cantonment areas, where about 55,000 households used it on day one; houselisting there runs from 16 April to 15 May 2026. Nationally, the HLO phase runs from 1 April to 30 September 2026, with each state or UT holding a 30-day field operation preceded by a 15-day self-enumeration window. Phase I has 33 questions, notified in January 2026, and self-enumeration is available in 16 regional languages at se.census.gov.in.
Key facts
- Began
- 1 April 2026 (Phase I β Houselisting and Housing Census)
- First to self-enumerate
- President Droupadi Murmu
- HLO window
- 1 April β 30 September 2026
- Per state/UT
- 30-day field work + 15-day self-enumeration window
- Phase I questions
- 33 (notified January 2026)
- Day-one use
- ~55,000 households
- Languages
- 16 regional languages
- Law
- Census Act, 1948 (data confidential)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Who was the first to complete self-enumeration when Census 2027 began on 1 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D β President Droupadi Murmu
The Home Ministry said the exercise began with the enumeration of President Droupadi Murmu, upholding the tradition of starting with the First Citizen.
Between which dates will the Houselisting and Housing Census phase of Census 2027 be conducted across the country?
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Correct answer: A β 1 April β 30 September 2026
The HLO phase runs nationally from 1 April to 30 September 2026; 16 Aprilβ15 May is the houselisting window in the first set of states/UTs.
How many questions have been notified for Phase I (Houselisting and Housing Census) of Census 2027?
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Correct answer: C β 33
A total of 33 questions for Phase I were notified in January 2026; 16 is the number of regional languages for self-enumeration.